Today we're talking about the idioms "free rein" and "carte blanche" 

For instance, "the architect given carte blanche to design the store", or "you have free rein to hire anyone you want".

DAILY Business English VOCABULARY builder

You're free! Do whatever you want!

On this date, 10 December 1936, King Edward VIII signed the Instrument of Abdication, giving up the British throne so he could marry the woman he loved, Wallis Simpson. This historic moment reshaped the monarchy, led to the reign of King George VI, and eventually paved the way for Queen Elizabeth II.

In this video, we look at why Edward VIII chose to resign, the constitutional crisis it triggered, and how the relationship between Edward and Wallis became one of the most famous love stories of the 20th century.

If you enjoy history, royal stories, or daily “On This Date” content, remember to like and subscribe.

Key topics covered:

Edward VIII abdication

Wallis Simpson and the monarchy

Constitutional crisis of 1936

“On this day” historical events

British royal history explained

Teacher Joseph's Podcast

On This Date: 10 December 1936 – King Edward VIII Abdicates for Love

Neil McTaggart makes his first journey into town after settling in Canada.
The air is clean, the world quieter than the mills of Kilbirnie he left behind. In a warm little café, he meets Mrs Brant, a woman with her hair pinned up and a strong puritan look that reminds him of his grandmother. Through her quiet kindness, Neil begins to sense what belonging might feel like in this new land.

This gentle, reflective story captures the rhythm of early immigrant life in rural Canada — the small kindnesses, the silence, and the slow building of community far from home.

🎧 Part of the “Neil McTaggart” storytelling series — following a young Scottish man’s journey of migration, memory, and identity in 1920s Canada.

Neil McTaggart's Crossing (9): A Story of 1920s Scottish Emigration to Canada 

In this podcast I examine a recent BBC article titled “What is the plan for digital IDs and will they be mandatory?”.  I  look at what “digital ID” means in a UK context, what the government is planning, whether it will be mandatory (and if so when), and what the implications are for privacy, personal freedom and everyday life.

Digital IDs in the UK – Will They Be Mandatory?

Join me for a quiet walk to Peel Tower in Lochwinnoch, a mysterious ruin overlooking Castle Semple Loch in Renfrewshire, Scotland.

In this short clip, I share the legend of the Warlock of Peel Tower — a tale passed down through local folklore — and explore how this lonely tower connects myth, landscape, and history.

🏰 Location: Peel Tower, Lochwinnoch, Scotland
🌿 Themes: Scottish folklore, Renfrewshire legends, medieval ruins
🎙️ Story: The Warlock of the Semples



Peel Tower,  Lochwinnoch, Scotland (transcript is available))

English learners: The Government will introduce ID cards, but Guernsey says it hasn't made a decion to accept them. . This  story explains more. 